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Prince had opioid meds with him when died: reports

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Let him rest in peace. Lets remember him for how he lived not how he died!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Apparently, he suffered from stage fright and had been using oPiAte pills and patches since 1984 to help him relax at shows. He wasn't using to get high or escape reality but just to help him overcome stage fright. Cut him some slack. He brought joy to many people.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Sigh. Are we still going with this?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Kobe: much as I enjoyed the man's work, no free pass just because of who he was. Druggies are druggies. Loss of respect.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

Prince was a genius but could also connect to the everyday people. Probably heart failure due to the drugs, but Im not judging him on that, all the celebrities escape to that world. He was an inspiration way back in the day when race tensions were high and helped bridge the divide.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@smithinjapan You lose respect for druggies? Why? So many famous/accomplished/successful/important people have/had drug (including, cigarette/alcohol/RX/illegal/legal etc.) problems. Why the bee in you bonnet over that? Take the druggies out of history and who's left? Life is tough.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

shallots: "You lose respect for druggies? Why? So many famous/accomplished/successful/important people have/had drug (including, cigarette/alcohol/RX/illegal/legal etc.) problems. Why the bee in you bonnet over that? Take the druggies out of history and who's left? Life is tough."

Let me phrase it better. I don't have any more respect for people who die from drugs just because they are celebrities than the homeless guy on the street who dies for the same reason. People can't just say, "Let's just forget the fact that he abused drugs and died from drug complications, which he had on him, and remember him for how he lived" when how he lived was clearly on drugs, and also the fact that he would still be alive if not for them, so there's that much wasted as well. It does not mean I'm going to stop liking the songs that I like, by him or the myriad of other artists who have abused and in some cases died from drugs. It just means my respect for him as a person, and my image of him, has gone down. If it doesn't have that effect for others, great! But I think it's a shame, personally.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

@smithinjapan

"Kobe: much as I enjoyed the man's work, no free pass just because of who he was. Druggies are druggies. Loss of respect."

Really??? Let the late great bill hick explain it to you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzO_4IHPlFQ

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Apparently, he suffered from stage fright and had been using oPiAte pills and patches since 1984 to help him relax at shows. He wasn't using to get high or escape reality but just to help him overcome stage fright.

That's a plausible story... IF the meds aren't found in his bloodstream during the autopsy.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

What are opioids? Does anyone know some real-life examples. Do they mean things like vicodin?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Let's just forget the fact that he abused drugs and died from drug complications, which he had on him, and remember him for how he lived" when how he lived was clearly on drugs, and also the fact that he would still be alive if not for them

And if it finally turns out that it wasn't the drugs, are you going to take that back? CNN and other news outlets are irresponsible to be publishing bits and pieces of info and drawing conclusions as clickbait. It's not yet 'clear' at all. People drawing conclusions and gossiping are equally irresponsible.

Druggies are druggies. Loss of respect.

It's attitudes like yours that keep people from getting help, or even admitting they have a problem. I hope that you are never unfortunate enough to become addicted to something. We'd have to shun you then wouldn't we? Couldn't respect any of your contributions after that...heavens, no....and your prior opinions would be suspect as well, because, well, druggies are druggies...how nice it must be to be perfect, until one day you're not.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

As Prince was a American lets look at US Stats, fact 60-70% of the population of States are on some form of prescription medication. Adding that he was an artist i think he deserves a good bit of leeway, especially when the people slagging him on here are probably downing a good safe socially acceptable drug as the type.

A little more Bill for the nice people

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkft4meO4jM

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Adding that he was an artist i think he deserves a good bit of leeway, especially when the people slagging him on here are probably downing a good safe socially acceptable drug as the type.

Not I. And there's a difference between non-prescription (your "good safe socially acceptable") drugs and prescription drugs like opioids. From Wiki:

The term opiate should be differentiated from the broader term opioid, which includes all drugs with morphine-like effects, including opiates, semi-synthetic opioids derived from opiates (such as heroin, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone, and oxymorphone), and synthetic opioids which are not derived from opiates (such as fentanyl, buprenorphine, and methadone). All opioids, including the opiates, are considered drugs of high abuse potential and are listed under the Controlled Substances Act of the United States.

This stuff is highly addictive when the patient is allowed to self-dose.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

He was using fentanyl patches since 1984. He took his opiates in pills and skin patches so nobody would ever see him taking drugs. Yes the patches slowly sent vicodin and oxycodin etc into his blood. He was doing this since 1984. Now Strangerland, what say you now that the autopsy is done? Was I right or was I wrong? Another "idol" gone south. Had his own dealer in los angeles for 25 years. Hired him as roadie for shows to keep him close at hand.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I'm surprised the media hasn't paid someone who served him in those pharmacies to spill the beans on his prescription, or someone who treated him for "flu" recently. I wish that autopsy would come out sooner. All those judging him as a junkie should try living one day in constant pain. My mother uses opioid patches and they provide a lot of relief. When you are young and fit you just can't imaging the sleepless nights and long, lonely days dealing with pain. You are bound to turn to medication.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Opiods and opiates are different, Danny.

Now Strangerland, what say you now that the autopsy is done?

It's done but the results have not yet been released. The Daily Mail says he was using patches, but there has been NO formal announcement yet.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

As Prince was a American lets look at US Stats, fact 60-70% of the population of States are on some form of prescription medication.

Opioids are not the same as pills for heart disease or diabetes. And the excuse that "taking pills is okay, because everyone else does it" is pathetic at best.

Pain pills are very addictive, and very hard to quit once one becomes addicted to them. I doubt that Prince took Percocet to overcome stage fright, try playing the guitar or piano with the intensity that Prince played after taking a couple of these pills and see what happens.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

sangetsu03APR. 29, 2016 - 01:11PM JST

It's his decision. Nobody that surrounds him will say "No" to what Prince takes. Same as Elvis.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@SFJP, i was just going to mention Elvis, when he died it was the same kind of thing in the "news" but look at how he is remembered now. Lets hope Prince is remembered in the same way as the King.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Yes, Kobe, time heals all rock star pop star movie star wounds. In 25 years, Prince will be remembered as true musical genius, not as a drug mule.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Opiods and opiates are different, Danny.

Opiates (consisting of drugs directly derived from poppy seeds) are a sub-class of Opioids which are all drugs - natural or synthetic - that provide an effect similar to the opiate sub-class. So by definition opiates are opioids.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Probably not an addiction but a medical misadventure (trying to take what he's not supposed to)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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